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Anyone who breeds horses knows that caring for a broodmare is completely different from any other horse. With every decision, two lives are affected, and each decision must be carefully evaluated. Attention to your mare's healthcare starting before she is even bred is the best way to ensure your foal lives up to his genetic potential.
Your mare's body goes through a lot in order to grow and deliver a foal that weighs, on average, 10 percent of her body weight. During her 11+ months gestation, you need to gauge what's going on inside by how your mare looks on the outside.
Prior to breeding, your mare should be in good weight and current on essential vaccinations and deworming. Routine dental prophylaxis and foot trimming should also be up to date.
A breeding soundness exam may be in order for older mares, maidens and mares with a history of breeding or foaling problems. For mares at risk for early pregnancy loss, you may also want to routinely monitor blood progesterone levels during the first trimester. Your veterinarian can send blood samples for analysis. Healthy mares with viable pregnancies have progesterone concentrations above 2 ng/ml.
Always check with your vet. Never miss another vaccination for your mare in foal. Click to enter your mare's name and breeding date to get Mare Care Reminders, a comprehensive list of key vaccination and deworming milestones to help you work with your veterinarian to keep your pregnant mare healthy.*Based on vaccinated mares
There's nothing more gratifying for a breeder than a promising new foal hitting the ground healthy. A successful outcome starts months prior with the initial breeding and identifying the time of ovulation is crucial for a successful outcome.
Once your mare is in-foal you'll note several important milestones over the course of the 11+ month gestation, including important action items to discuss with your veterinarian.
There's a lot at stake when your mare is pregnant. Not only do you want to keep her healthy and strong, you also want to protect the life of the unborn foal. Talk with your veterinarian early on about a vaccination plan for your broodmare.
Strategic deworming is another essential ingredient of preventive health care. The major gastrointestinal parasites of concern in the mare are large and small strongyles and, in some instances, tapeworms. Another parasite, Strongyloides, can be passed from dam to foal in the milk.
Congratulations! has an estimated foaling date on XX/XX/XXXX.
Save your Mare Care reminders straight to your calendars.
Consult your veterinarian for exact deworming and vaccination recommendations for your mare.
Congratulations on your new foal !
Save your Foal Care reminders straight to your calendars.
Foal vaccination reminders apply to foals of vaccinated mares. Please refer to the AAEP Vaccination Guidelines for Foals. Consult your veterinarian if you do not know the dam's vaccination history.